MatriTalks 61
MATRIARCHY
Questions
& Answers
with
Han Marie Stiekema Sermes
Statements
1. Matriarchy means "rule
by women". Since the latter are not alone on this planet, it actually means
"rule of women over men".
2. In order to support one's
claim, one appeals to the superiority of women: biologically, psychologically, socially
and historically.
3. The justification is found
in stronger genes, a higher (emotional) intelligence, greater social skills and the
presupposition of a prehistoric "ideal" matriarchal society.
4. While men indeed were
inferior in that society, they very much felt in harmony with its context, many feminists
contend. Hence, this society was to everyone's satisfaction. It can be imagined as a
permanent state of contentment.
5. The same feminists are
telling us, that because there were no "class" differences, society did not show
signs of inner dynamics. Change "from within" is therefore ruled out.
6. Not surprisingly thus, that
change exclusively happened "from the outside". It were aggressive patriarchal
nomads from the North, who destroyed and overruled the peaceful agricultural societies of
the South.*
* Meant is the situation as it
occurred around 10.000 years BCE in Europe.
7. Obviously, patriarchy has
proved - despite its successes - to be a system of exploitation, brutally suppressing
women, destroying nature and a recipe for global suicide. And indeed, most (but not all)
patriarchal systems were imposed on people through subjection.
8. It is an extra justification
for the introduction of women's rule. However, patriarchy has not been "men's
rule" only. Hence, to put "women's rule" against "men's rule" is
not only artificial, but tries to solve the problem on the same level: power versus power.
Because men at any rate constitute fifty percent of the world population, this strategy is
not going to work, ever.
9. During all centuries, women
- for different reasons - have "collaborated" with the system. It has culminated
in recent times, in which women are often the fiercest defenders of the status quo.
10. This should not be
surprising, because of the psychology of both women and men. Women contain a masculine
part ("animus") in their soul, while men possess a feminine part
("anima"). What can be observed is, that nowadays the "animus" of
women very well complies with the objectives of a competitive career society.
11. I don't say this, because I
oppose forms of female dominance. The reason is, that because the often totally unsound
"scientific" argumentation of some feminist writers - emphasizing
"facts" which fit in their presuppositions, omitting others which do not -
matriarchy and everything related to it, has discredited itself.
12. Instead of trying to get a
special role here - women generally are very well able to defend their position - it is
simply my objective to contribute to a honest, open, transparent and matter-of-fact
discussion, necessary for women rights to become accepted by larger parts of society.
13. First of all, it has to be
said, that no society ever, have been free from inner controversy. In fact, feminists
agree, that in ancient matriarchy "men were still immature". That implies, that
they still had to develop themselves, thus being a potential source for change. Secondly,
it has been proven, that in matriarchy men were subjected to annual offerings in favor of
the harvest. After public intercourse with the Queen, the former were massively
slaughtered.
14. It is the theme of the
famous Gilgamesh-epos. Gilgamesh was destined to become a (short-living) husband of the
Queen, however realizing the consequences of it, preferred to escape. It was the beginning
of the "change from within" and men's quest for immortality.
15. The conclusion is, that
matriarchy, like every other society, did have its own dialectics. It wasn't static at
all. As long as the men "were immature", they accepted the system. In the course
of their development, they became more independent though, becoming a vehicle for change.
Moreover, an important factor in the origination of patriarchy: the agrarian revolution (a
women's invention), which sadly turned into the need to defend property, eventually
leading to male dominance, cannot be overlooked here.
16. I fully acknowledge and
cherish the many positive aspects of former female-centered societies, however, idealizing
it as a ever-lasting paradise, won't be fruitful to anyone. First of all, you cannot
simply transplant an utopia from pre-history to the present (see in this regard the
failure of Zionism), simply leaving out some 12.000 years of cultural, social and
psychological development, even if you dislike the latter. Secondly, by denying that
matriarchy had its inner dynamism, (partly) contributing to the origination of patriarchy,
one continuously keeps blaming "the other side". You deprive yourself from
learning something yourself.
17. It is the reason, why quite
some feminists stubbornly harden themselves, repeating the same positions all the time. In
the end, the only listeners left....are themselves.
18. As said above, I was rather
saddened by the situation. Therefore, I want to try to make my own position clear here,
hoping, that it will lead to mutual understanding and a new dynamics.
19. First of all, Great Mother
Spirituality not necessarily implies the acceptance of "matriarchy". On the
contrary. Matriarchy as understood as a prehistoric paradise, only to be transplanted
unchanged to the present, automatically "solving all problems", is considered to
be totally unrealistic and therefore undesirable.
20. The Great Mother on the
other hand is All-Embracing, without exception. She indeed implies A Feminine World View.
Its principles are not based on "female superiority" (although some facts speak
for themselves), though. It is not a matter of just "replacing male rule by female
rule", even if it would be beneficial to everyone, as the latter claim. To the Mother
Her children - not only women and men, but all "sentient and non-sentient
beings" - are of equal value. Hence, the assumption of superiority of one gender over
the other, is untenable.
21. To the Mother, Her Web of
Life is of main concern. She is calling men and women to start a new way of cooperation,
in order to let Her Web prosper. Patriarchal men and radical feminists have to reconcile
with each other. Their shared interest being Life, as has been given by the Mother. The
characteristics of A New Way do not lie in "change of power", but in a new kind
of cooperation. The "playground" for that cooperation is the (New) Community.
22. The "design" of
this New Community will certainly be welcomed by those, who support a balanced society. It
is based on different roles for men and women*. Women, obviously are the center of the
Community. They are masters in managing daily life. Only recently this would mean, that
women would be moved back in their position of housewife. With the introduction of the New
Community as the foundation of society, this has dramatically changed though.
* Obviously, on the basis of
individual freedom. A New Community cannot be imposed from above. It depends on local
developments. It implies, that the New Society will become a patchwork of different
patterns and colors, some more feminine oriented, others less.
23. The Community represents
the Mothers' Web of Life. Hence, it is the direct expression of the "Will of the
Mother". It means, that the Community derives all its rights from being a reflection
of the Ultimate. "Microcosm is Macrocosm". It confirms its central position as
the foundation of society, being a Self-sovereign body, consisting of interwoven layers of
self-rule, knit together by an organic structure of interaction, consensus and
cooperation. It will be clear, that with this concept of Community, the position of women
- as its center - has changed in a most substantial way. Instead of being marginalized,
they become the embodiment of Self-government.
24. The men on the other hand,
will find their New Identity - something men are desperately looking for nowadays - in
serving the Whole. In serving, men are at their best. It corresponds with their
"inherent nature". Through forgetting themselves, they will transcend their
ego's. This time not as self-interest, but everything to the interest of the greater
Whole. Ironically, many women have developed a patriarchal mind, while many men have
become mother's children. By returning to their "true Self", these
"abortive developments" should become corrected, obviously leaving plenty of
space for both sexes, to freely choosing the role they want.
25. To my understanding,
empowerment of women will logarithmically increase, if they reclaim their central position
in the Community, while the same is true for men, after they have discovered their inner
need to serve. "Servants of the Whole" doesn't imply, that only minor jobs are
given to the latter. On the contrary. Like in ancient times, in which the King/God used to
be the executive of the Queen/Goddess, men should be able to occupy the highest positions.
The difference with the past is, that they exercise power in the "Name of the
Mother", while being controlled by the Community. Ironically, exactly because of
men's alleged "inferiority" in many areas, men should deliberately be granted a
symbolic surplus value - honor, influence, respect and position - in society, in order to
balance the latter*.
* In Maoist China equality of
the sexes was introduced. Within two decades it became clear, that women had become
dominant in many areas of life...
In the Name of the Mother.
Empower yourself.
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